Volvo plans to modify its Ridgeville, South Carolina factory, which is located less than 40 miles from Charleston, to become a dedicated EV factory. Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson said that the factory will be the first Volvo factory in the world making only electric cars. This makes Tesla and Volvo the only carmakers in the US with factories dedicated solely to manufacturing EVs.
The South Carolina factory will initially serve as an export hub for the electric XC90. The next-generation XC90 will be produced with a novel approach—essentially allowing the same vehicle to be built on two platforms. As Volvo’s de facto flagship, it will also introduce new technologies, such as integrated lidar and more advanced driver assist technology.
The XC90 will be followed in 2024 by an electric version of the smaller XC60 SUV. Sibling brand Polestar will also build the all-electric Polestar 3 in South Carolina as well, with deliveries starting in 2022.
Volvo is building a European battery factory with Swedish company Northvolt that will initially supply batteries for Europe. It’s possible that a similar dedicated battery factory could also be built in the U.S.